Category: sports gambling

In the United States, sports gambling is illegal on a federal level, except for Delaware, Nevada and Montana. The main proponent for this ruling has been about avoiding scandals such as point shaving and fixing, and ultimately keep the integrity of sports.

But in early December, the US Supreme Court has opened up the idea of legalizing and regulating gambling throughout the other US states. Professional sports leagues like the NBA, for one, agrees with this move.

The big question now is, what are the likely outcomes if sports gambling would be legalized throughout the United States? In this article, we present three possible scenarios.

Gambling Addiction May Increase

Â Studies have revealed that approximately 2.5 million adult Americans suffer from compulsive gambling, with 3 million of them considered as âproblem gamblers.â However, it is believed that these numbers could further spike up if gambling would be legalized throughout the entire country.

Of course, there is also the possibility for the exact opposite to happen, especially if sports gambling would be properly regulated.

Major Telecommunication Companies Will Be Involved

If sports gambling does get legalized on a countrywide scale, experts are expecting major players to want in on the action. According to a 2017 ESPN report, big wig corporations such as Microsoft, Sony, and Reuters have already applied for betting patents, and in a decadeâs time, it is expected that major telecommunication companies will likely be involved.

If this does happen, America, and eventually the rest of the world, would be going through another major development in terms of what is acceptable as a norm, just like how recreational cannabis use has been a game-changer.

More Game Officials Could Get Involved, Which Would Cause Controversies

Another possible downside for the countrywide legalization of sports betting would be the involvement of game officials. In 2007, NBA referee Tim Donaghy was charged with two felonies in relation to his activities of wagering on games he was officiating. After pleading guilty to the charges, he was eventually released on a $250,000 bail.

Similar to the addiction possibility, it is not a guarantee that more referees would follow Donaghyâs footsteps. But if it would, then the US government may want to carefully think about their decision, before approving legalization.

These are just some scenarios that may happen if sports gambling would be legalized on a federal level in the United States. While it does look like a huge money-making venture for those involved, hereâs hoping that the integrity of sports would not be compromised.

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At a young age, Melvin Cavanaugh has been obsessed with gambling, but within reason. He would start off playing a friendly game of Gin Rummy with his peers, and would constantly win each hand every single time.